Corvair manual/Powerglide transaxle okay to use in Tucker?

[NailheadRocketdriver]

I have been looking into building a Tucker replica from scratch more and more all the time and have still been researching V8 powered kit cars that use Corvair transmissions. These cars are fairly large, many have been converted to run mid engined for performance reasons. Now, what I am asking is, is it possible for one to use a Corvair transaxle with say a Chevrolet 283? I was even considering using a supercharged 3800 out of a Buick. My other concerns besides power output and torque demand was the track. I know that Corvairs are compact cars with a relatively narrow track compared to the Tucker. Would it be possible to use longer CV axles with a Corvair transaxle on the Tucker?

Here is the mid engined car with the Corvair transmission that I was speaking of: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/car/657403171.html

And here is a perfect donor Car for parts: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/car/614868801.html

I would be thankful for any input.

Paul

[Tuckerfan1053]

Have you thought about using the one out of a Fiero? Lots of Lambo replicars are built on the Fiero platform, and they can handle a Chevy 350 from what I understand. I think they even put extensions on them to widen the track.

[NailheadRocketdriver]

No, I never thought of that actually.... Good idea. What transmission was in the Fiero, 4t40? I only suggested Corvair because I may be picking up a 64 Monza coupe for 500 bucks. I see you're awake at odd hours just like I am. I was just about to go to bed when i saw the reply notice in my email inbox lol. I wonder how wide the track is on that kit car though? Maybe somewhere close to the Tucker's, if it's trying to ape the look of the GT40. Anyhoo, this will be a long and strenuous undertaking coming up pending if I get enough components together. Kit cars are not easy to build I hear, especially when there's no real "kit" to assemble the car from. I've been wanting to get just simple fiberglass body panels, not Ida bodies, so that atleast that portion of the building the car would be over. I figure i would need a roof, a cowl area, doors, fenders, rear hood and front decklid..... floorpan could be grafted in from something else. Glass and interior paneling would be another story. I've also thought about turning a Monza into a downsized Tucker Talisman, since some guy grafted a fiberglass Tucker front end to his Corvair convertible. The ideas are endless...... it's just time and money that are the two determining factors. I'm thinking of selling my 56 Oldsmobile to get some more funding.

Paul

[Tuckerfan1053]

No clue as to the specs on the Fiero stuff, but I know there's plenty of websites devoted to the cars, so it shouldn't be too hard to dig up.

If you're going to try for a Talisman of this incarnation: http://usera.imagecave.com/tuckerfan/tremtalisman.jpg

I'd suggest starting out with a 72 Buick Riviera: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/491589

[NailheadRocketdriver]

I think I finally got my project well thought out. I am considering cutting up a 1950 Chrysler Windsor for the doors, front fenders (although I'm still thinking about making panels from fiberglass. The dash of a 1950 Chrysler is very similar to the Tucker in the way that it has a long section of foam padding and a "pod" containing all the gauges over the steering column. The exception is that Chrysler spread out a mile of chrome paneling next to that instrument panel and had a clock put in on the passenger side. I'm thinking of using a late 90s, early 00s, Chrysler 3.5 v6 with that longitudal transaxle as well. The Chrysler LHS was a pretty big car and it did fine with that motor. Tucker shouldn't be too much to handle. I figure that the original car only made 166 hp and the Chrysler engine makes 253 hp (in today's numbers). I might still do what i originally planned though, and build a car out of fiberglass with GM components in back. Things are still in the planning stages. If I do decide I want a car with a split windshield, definitely using the Windsor. I'm just not sure i want a clone. The original Tucker design had a single piece, curved windshield sort of like a 52 Olds (on paper atleast). I will post some sketches in the coming weeks.

Paul

[Ganaraska]

There are very few transmissions that offer the correct configuration for a Tucker. It is unfortunate that all today's front drive powertrains, effectively put the engine in the back seat.

Other than the Cord and the Tucker Y-1, the best candidates are the Corvair and VW.

The Corvair transaxle used the gears from Chev's conventional transmission. So it will stand up to a V8 if you don't hammer it.

Unfortunately the Corvair engine runs backwards. So the only engine you can use with it, is a Corvair unless you want 4 speeds in reverse and 1 forward.

It is possible to make a V8 engine run backwards. They do it in boats all the time. You need a "marine reverse rotation camshaft". Or possibly a boat engine.

The best candidate is a VW Vanagon transaxle from the 80s. These were used with a 2 litre water cooled engine in the last versions. Both 4 speed and automatics were made.

They are a fairly heavy duty transmission, at least as strong as the Corvair.

Adapters are available from Transdapt to mate different engines to it.

The most authentic drivetrain you could make from available parts, would be a Subaru water cooled flat 6 mated to the VW 4 speed transaxle.

[NailheadRocketdriver]

Actually, if you look into the "autostick" transaxle used in Chryslers last generation "LH" platform cars, you will find that they were made for longitudal drive in cramped spaces (so no need for transverse like with GM's 4t60/3800 combo). That was due to them being used in full size cars which were cab forward, so that meant relatively short overhangs on an otherwise big car. I have heard of problems with these small transmissions, but then again, the Cord transaxle had problems too. You couldn't even drag race a Tucker starting in first gear unless you didnt care about that 372 lbs. of torque stripping out that gear. It would be possible to transplant all the LH platform running gear into a custom body, street rodders do it all the time. My only concern is that they were electronic shift (for manual mode) and I am wondering about the shift pattern once the powertrain has been turned around for use in the back[i]of the car.[/i]That big car won't go very fast though.... Anyway, I do know that a 1957 Cadillac has a similar dimension frame/wheelbase to the Tucker and I also have a 66 Impala perimeter girder frame that I can cut up if I decide to junk the whole car. A Corvair transaxle should be able to handle the load though, especially if hooked to a smaller engine like a 283. I can easily get ahold of a Marine purpose V8 engine, we always have spares up for sale here all the time for cheap on Craigslist. it wouldnt be much different from what Tucker did back in 47 when he modified a helicopter engine for use in the car. The most common here are old Mercs that people have ripped out for transplants requiring more power. I knew that Corvair motors also rotated backwards, but they probably aren't powerful enough for that car unless they've been built up. Then again, didn't some of the Monza engines make something like 170 hp? One thing to keep in mind is gross and net horsepower.... If a Corvair drivetrain could be built up cheaply, then I would look into it. Anyway, thanks for the info.... I'm sorry I have not been on this site for awhile. my internet was down and i was busy with work and such. I'm still restoring a 1956 Olds and it is testing my patience everyday.